Though most Eugene Astronomical Society members own a telescope, viewing through different scopes is interesting, eye opening, and fun. As members of the Eugene Astronomical Society, these are your scopes to check out, enjoy, and share the views with family & friends. Scopes can be checked out for a three-month period, renewable for up to a year.

This nice lightweight refractor is perfect to leave set up and ready to take outside on a moment's notice. Its achromatic objective lens gives nice clean views with only a touch of color on the brightest of objects. It has a smooth alt-azimuth mount for easy aiming and easy following of objects. The scope's 1000mm focal length gives a pleasingly wide field at low power yet can zoom in on the Moon and planets or split tight double stars at high power. The right-angle diagonal lets you look down comfortably into the eyepiece rather than strain to sight along the tube. The prism diagonal provides an upright image for terrestrial viewing. This scope is easily portable in a trunk or back seat.

This is a small but powerful scope that packs a long focal length into a short, lightweight package. The optics are excellent, providing crisp views of planets, the Moon, star clusters, and more. It's computerized, so it requires initial alignment, but once it's aligned it will automatically go to any object within its 30,000-target database. It has a 90-degree diagonal for easy visual use and a straight-through port for photography. It's lightweight and its tripod is collapsible, making it easy to transport. It's in like-new condition.

This is a great small reflector for quick grab-and-go observing. If you hold the door for them, a child could take this outside in one trip (base and tube each weigh less than 10 lbs) and set it up in a minute or two.
A red dot finder and smooth and steady motions make it easy to point to your target. Its 4.5" mirror gathers plenty of light for fine views of the moon, planets, star clusters and more. Easy to transport, this little dob will fit in most any car.

This is an excellent medium-aperture scope for both planetary and some deep sky observing. Its long focal length and high f-ratio allows for tack-sharp views of planets, star clusters, double stars, and Lunar detail; and its 6" aperture allows good views of the brighter nebulae and galaxies. It's a logical step between the 4.5" dob and the 8" scopes for someone looking to decide what they want for their own, or who just wants to borrow an easy-to-handle but powerful scope. It's lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to use. This scope is in excellent shape.

This is a computerized Dobsonian telescope. The scope isn't motorized, so you nudge it along to track objects just like any Dobsonian, but once you align it on the stars the hand controller will help you find any object in its database. You select the object, then watch arrows on the controller as you push the scope into position. If you're just starting out in amateur astronomy, this is a good option for helping to learn where things are in the sky. Once you learn your way around, it can be used without the controller like a traditional Dob.
The optics are excellent, and the motions are smooth. The scope fits into the back seat of a car and the base fits into the trunk or passenger seat.

The classic orange Celestron is the scope that started the Schmidt-Cassegrain revolution, with good optics and decent aperture in a small package is easy to set up and easy to use. A long focal length allows easy high magnification for great views of planets, tight double stars, and detail within nebulae and clusters. An equatorial wedge and motor drive give precise tracking, holding objects in the field of view for observing. The drive system runs on 12 volts or 110, so you can plug it into an extension cord if you're near home, or a car battery if you're out in the field. Precise controls for both right ascension and declination allow for guided astrophotography.

Fits easily into any car for transport. Light enough to leave set up and carry out into the back yard for quick peeks. If you've ever wanted to try a Schmidt-Cassegrain, this is an excellent opportunity.

This is a computerized, go-to, eight-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. You align it on the sky at the beginning of the night and from then on it will go to whatever object you tell it to and track that object for as long as you like. It's in like-new condition and provides excellent images. It would make a great scope for photography or just visual use. It comes loaded with accessories, making this a complete astronomy package.

This isn't a beginner's scope, but if you've had some experience with other scopes and want to try a fully automated Schmidt-Cassegrain, this one might be for you. It's a smaller version of our 10" LX200. It comes in a hard case and has a large eyepiece case and an accessory bag, plus the tripod, so you'll want some cargo space in your car for this one.

Updated with a new wood base (Early 2011), this mid-size dob looks good and moves good. Ergonomic handles make moving scope easy; a good finder and fine optics make for satisfying viewing. The tube easily fits in the back seat of a car, and the rocker box fits in the trunk or the passenger seat.

This is a new design developed by the EAS's own Jerry Oltion. It puts standard Newtonian optics in a ball-shaped mount, which rests in a cradle that allows free motion in any direction. You can even rotate the scope to provide a convenient eyepiece angle for any target. The mount has a motorized axle that provides tracking. Just point the scope at your target, let go, and it's tracking. This is the ultimate in grab-and-go scopes: setup takes about 30 seconds. The scope fits easily in the back seat of a car and the mount fits in the trunk or passenger seat. The motor runs on 6 AA batteries (provided) or an external 12v battery.
The optics on this scope are excellent. You can see the E and F stars in the trapezium with it, and split the double-double in Lyra with ease.If you've never used a ball scope before, prepare to be amazed. They're light-years beyond dobs and equatorial mounts in comfort and ease of use. If you bring a stool or chair, you can observe sitting down.

In 2008, this scope was transformed from a 75 lb light bucket to this
modern, 41 lb folding truss tube dob. Easy to carry, easy to transport,
this short 10" can really go low-power for bright, wide field views.
Finding targets is easy with Quickfinder bulls eye sight and upright 6 x
30 finder. Will fit in any car, easy to take camping, or to that dark
sky site. The pictured box stores the secondary cage, eyepieces, and
finders; can also be used as platform to raise telescope-viewing height.

A fine, veteran scope, the White Ten has been around. It's shown kids
the moon & planets at star parties, and for one club member every
Messier object (82 in one marathon back in 2002). Recent upgrades
include handles on telescope tube and base for ease of carrying, and new
coating on primary mirror. This scope features a curved spider (no
diffraction spikes) and an open tube for quick cooling. The 15" x 15" x
37" base will fit in most trunks; the 45" tube in most back seats. Total
weight ~ 55 lbs.

This is a computerized, go-to, ten-inch Schmidt Cassegrain. You align it on the sky at the beginning of the night and from then on it will go to whatever object you tell it to and track that object for as long as you like. It's in like-new condition and provides excellent images. It would make a great scope for photography or just visual use. The high-quality eyepieces provide a nice wide field of view, and at f/6.3 its focal length is actually quite short for a Schmidt-Cassegrain of this size. It's near the upper limit for what a single person can set up and take down; it's much easier with two people. The scope comes in a hard case, the accessories in another, and the tripod in a bag.
Accessories and Equipment list:

Originally built in early '80s by Club members, this scope was
refurbished in late 2008 with a new solid base, secondary mirror, and
other upgrades. Optically excellent, Big Orange is great for high power
views of the moon, planets and double stars. With 10" of aperture, it
also gives good views of deep sky nebulae, galaxies, and clusters.

A sizable telescope (68" long, ~72 lbs), it requires a small pick-up,
van, or station wagon (it just fits in a Subaru Outback) to transport.
Wheels allow easy movement on smooth ground (garage to driveway).

This is a BIG dob. It's a serious light bucket, gathering over twice as much light as an 8-inch scope, yet it's surprisingly portable. One person can carry the tube and set it into the base. This scope will give excellent views of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and many other objects that are too faint for smaller scopes. If you're interested in going deep, this is your chance to try it out. It's as simple to set up and use as any dob, just bigger. The tube takes up the entire back seat of a full-sized car, and may need to go lengthwise with the seat down. A mini-van, SUV, or station-wagon would carry it easily.
Accessories and Equipment list:

Another club member built scope, this 12-sided (dodecagon) split tube is a marvel of woodworking -- and houses a powerful telescope. 12.5" of aperture brings the "wow!" to deep sky observing, and fine optics (and stable motions) can deliver serious magnification for lunar, planetary, and double star enjoyment.

Refurbished in late 2011 with wheels, new mirror coatings, and a new paint job, this 20-year veteran is ready to roll though more decades delivering great views of the universe.

A short stepladder is needed for the 78" eyepiece height at zenith. A van (minivan with rear seats out) or pick-up is needed for transport. Backyard use only requires ability to roll from garage to observing spot.

The scope was built as a group project in early 2016 around a mirror started by Sam Pitts and finished by Optic Wave Labs for Jim Jackson, who then donated the mirror to the club. 8-10 club members joined forces to build the rest of the scope, and they did a great job. This scope is easy to set up and it moves smooth as butter. The optics are excellent, giving tack-sharp views at any magnification. This is a real light bucket, giving our larger 18" scope strong competition for the best scope in our inventory.

We call this scope "Orion" because of Bill Basham's gorgeous photo of the Orion Nebula that adorns the dust cover, and for the Orion-shaped pattern of knots in the secondary cage. When taken apart, Orion fits snugly in the back seat of a medium-large car or easily into the back of a station wagon or SUV.

This scope can be used with an equatorial platform (provided upon request) to track the stars while you're observing. The platform adds about 6" to its height, which may require a stool to reach the eyepiece near the zenith, but no ladder should be required even so.

This 18-inch Dobsonian is the club's flagship scope. Purchased from Frank Szczepanski in 2008 and rebuilt by Tony Dandurand in 2009, this is big glass of the finest quality. It's easy to assemble, easy to use, and it provides WOW views of pretty much everything. It fits into a station wagon or a van or SUV, and it has wheels and handles so it can be rolled short distances while set up (i.e. from garage to driveway). This is a serious telescope and requires some knowledge and skill to use, but if you're familiar with medium-sized Dobsonians and you want to try a large aperture, this is the scope to borrow.

Borrowers must be active club members for at least one year, and loans are made at the discretion of the telescope lending coordinator. Borrower must make an effort to take the scope to star parties.